No Limit To How Deep Our Relationship With God Can Go
Third Sunday of Easter
To convert means to believe in Jesus Christ. It means to turn to God, to grow in a deeper and more mature relationship with Him. For most of us, our parents made the decision to initiate our relationship with God by having us baptized when we were infants. Only a few weeks ago, during the Easter Vigil, we collectively professed our faith in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Catholic Church, saying “I believe.”
Whether we are aware of it or not, when we professed this faith we affirmed that life is a continual conversion. As Catholic Christians, we must continually strive to become more faithful, to follow the 10 Commandments and the True Magisterium of the Church more closely, to turn away from sin, and to love our neighbor with deeper charity.
God is infinite, and there is no limit to how deep our relationship with Him can go.
Often we experience certain fears, uncertainties, and anxieties. At these times, doubts can arise in our hearts. We might find ourselves asking, “Does God really exist? Is Jesus really a part of my life?” After Jesus’ death on the cross, the Apostles found themselves in this situation. As we heard in today’s Gospel, they were full of fear. When Jesus came into their midst, they were startled and terrified. Jesus, however, in His infinite love asks the Apostles: “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. See that it is I myself . . .” In times of uncertainty and fear, Jesus Himself wished the Apostles peace, so that they could be sure of His Love and of His presence in their lives—a presence which did not end with His death.
Jesus wishes us the very same peace in our lives. He is with us today, just like He was with the Apostles two thousand years ago. He is here in the Eucharist and Confession. He perfectly understands all of our difficulties, our problems, and our cares, and He never abandons us. God permits the darkness, the fears and the uncertainties so that we might seek a deeper relationship with Him and choose to follow the path of conversion.
I would like to encourage each of you to trust only Jesus. Through the sacraments, He will fill you with the grace of His Love so and His peace that you might be able to choose Him again and follow Him more closely.
Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter: Lectionary 47
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